A handout photo made available by the Fire and Rescue Departmental Service 33 shows firefighters crew battling a fire near Le Porge, in southwestern France on Wednesday as a wildfire rages through the forest in Gironde. Photo by EPA
July 30 (UPI) -- Tens of thousands of residents in Spain and France are returning home Thursday after being evacuated from wildfires that have torn through Europe.
Firefighters have contained wildfires near Madrid in Spain and in France's Bordeaux region for the moment. However, authorities in both countries warn that there is still work to be done while Europe withstands conditions that are conducive to the fires spreading again.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said Wednesday that firefighters were making progress, focusing on hot spots to prevent the fires from regaining momentum. Authorities later began lifting some evacuation orders.
France lifted evacuation orders for about 84,000 residents in the southwest region of the country Thursday. In total, about two-thirds of evacuees have been given the go-ahead to return to their homes.
